So Emile Heskey has called time on his international career, but does anyone care?

Bruno managed less than one shot on target for every two international appearances he made for England.

In his 62 appearances he mustered a measly 27 efforts on target and bagged just seven goals but has now drawn a line under his time with the Three Lions.

And yet where the stats prove he wasn’t prolific in front of goal, a succession of international managers all put faith in the big front man.

Heskey will tell you his legacy lies in how well strikers played alongside him and the goals he created. Fans will remember the countless occasions on which his first touch bounced off his shin and straight to an opponent.

You either love him or hate him: 'Bruno' (left) defined Marmite on a football field

He certainly divided opinion, but he’s not the first. Sportsmail takes a look at some of the other England strikers who some fans loved – but left others pulling their hair out.

MALCOLM MACDONALD

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No - it's Supermac! Incredibly, MacDonald started off life as a full-back but he famously forged a career as a devastating centre-forward.

He scored 193 league goals for Luton, Newcastle and Arsenal and things started incredibly well for England.

He bagged all the goals in the 5-0 defeat of Cyprus in April 1975 but he managed just one more and ended his international career with just 14 caps.

Five star: Malcolm Macdonald (left) continues his assault on Cyprus

LUTHER BLISSETT

You’d think a player who played for AC Milan and scored a hat-trick on his full international debut would have enjoyed a full and successful career with England.

But those three goals were his only in the famous white jersey. He made a total of 14 appearances but was disappeared off the scene as one young Gary Lineker was starting to stake his place.

Hair-raising: Mark Hateley failed to shine in an England shirt

MARK HATELEY

Maybe it was down to the amount of time he spent playing in the Italian, French and Scottish league but the 6ft 2ins forward was never revered in England.

He made 32 appearances for his country, scored nine goals but was always behind Gary Lineker and sometimes even Steve Bull in the pecking order.

ALAN SMITH

Many still hold a grudge against Smith for replacing Lineker during England’s defeat to Sweden at the European Championships in 1992.

Still, that wasn’t the fault of the league, FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup winner with Arsenal. He made 13 appearances before losing out to the likes of Alan Shearer.

PETER CROUCH

The Tottenham striker’s stats for England
speak for themselves – he scores at more than a goal every two games for the
Three Lions but many are still not convinced.

He doesn’t work well with Rooney or he’d too one-dimensional are the often heard arguments.

Given
Rooney's form in front of goal in South Africa, maybe we could have
done some of Crouch’s magic – and did I mention he has a good touch for
a big lad?

Let’s be fair, Heskey was certainly better than this lot…

Even Michael Ricketts will want to forget just how bad he was on his one appearance for England.

David Hirst made three appearances for England on a tour of Oceania. Say no more.

Believe it or not, Brian Deane made one of his three appearances against Spain. We're sorry, Spain.

John Fashanu - made two appearances in the Three Lions shirt - two too many if we're honest.

Franny Jeffers made one appearance and scored one goal - against Australia, a game we lost 3-1.